From Truant to Student of the Year - MI Youth Programs Change Lives
Truancy and run-ins with the law had caught up with Makinzie Makowski. Behind in credits, her academic career was suffering, but she was ready to make a change. To get her life back on track, Makinzie came to ACES Academy and entered the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) program in October 2014. Makinzie had always known she wanted to attend college after high school. Now, she needed to focus on making the changes to make this possible.
A major contributing factor in Makinzie’s transformation was discovering her ability to be a leader and role model. Elected to represent JMG Alpena by serving on the Career Association Leadership Group, she attended their national convention in Washington D.C. It was a great learning opportunity and also her first time on an airplane. Attending leadership training sessions, hearing from various speakers and politicians, and exploring the city’s monuments and museums provided her many experiences to bring back to ACES. This is when Makinzie really started to excel.
In ACES Leadership Class, Makinzie was instrumental to the success of their biggest project: putting together an ACES Family Reunion luncheon bringing former students and staff back to ACES to build motivation and pride in the school. Makinzie’s ideas shaped the vision of the event and her work ethic set the pace for the other students. All who attended, including Makinzie, benefitted from the guest speakers telling of their experiences and the impact ACES had on their lives.
Makinzie also attended many after school JMG sessions totaling 140 hours. In sessions aimed at preparing her for the work force, she created a resume, developed a business image, practiced interview skills and learned how to do a job search. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) assisted Makinzie in purchasing interview clothes, which helped her to get hired at McDonald’s. Shortly after, she moved on to take a position at the Meijer bakery, where she is still employed.
Makinzie’s transformation was truly remarkable. With the help of JMG and WIA, she became a role model for her entire school and she learned to excel in her studies. Recognizing her efforts, ACES Academy even awarded Makinzie Student of the Year. Having recovered some credits, Makinzie is back on pace to graduate with her class. She looks forward to remaining at ACES for her senior year, and although she has not decided on what area to study, she is determined to go on to college as well.
Now on the path to obtain her goals, Makinzie Makowski is a great success story and a great example of the power these programs can have in helping make a difference in changing youth’s lives.